State signals provider Sentech is set to change the way it distributes content through an ambitious project that aims to put SA's television - and other offerings - onto personal devices and PCs around the country.
However, the entity's previous forays into the consumer world have been less than successful, and it eventually phased out its retail ambitions in its 2007/8 annual report, after a backlash over poor service around its MyWireless offering.
Despite its previous failure in the retail space, the operator says it is ready to put content online and aims to have substantial offerings lined up by the end of March next year. Sentech has already inked a deal with the Department of Health and has to deliver content for it by the end of June.
Sentech says this will be the first uniform platform that cuts across SA's broadcasting space.
Demand-driven
CEO Setumo Mohapi says Sentech's plan is not "blue sky", as it has the ability to put television content online tomorrow. He says that, while agreements with major broadcasters have yet to be inked, the infrastructure is ready to offer them an alternative distribution mechanism.
Mohapi says a key growth pillar will be the multimedia content distribution platform, as traditional television viewing is coming under margin pressure as growth slows. He says people are moving to consuming television on platforms other than television.
Consumers want content in different ways and Sentech aims to prepare a platform and services for digital citizens that will allow viewing on any device through either Internet Protocol or digital terrestrial TV, says Mohapi. "The method of content [delivery] is certainly changing."
Sentech's planned model for content distribution will also involve broadcasters offering content on demand or live streaming to any device, such as tablets, smartphones and PCs, says Mohapi. He declined to indicate the cost of the project, saying it would vary depending on how much content was distributed.
Tech in place
The signals provider has set up a platform at Nasrec, where infrastructure for the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup was set up, and will use this as a hub for its multimedia platform. The hub is connected to its Honeydew operation centre through a fibre ring and will be able to pull content from broadcasters, which it already does to transmit via its terrestrial network, says Mohapi.
Mohapi adds that Sentech has converted more than 80% of its current terrestrial network to transmit digital TV and is on track to wrap up by the end of next March. Some 12% of the population will receive TV through satellite, due to a lack of physical transmitters.
Sentech has also gone live on peering platform NAPAfrica, which is located within Teraco's data facilities. The platform allows Sentech to distribute content to peering members already housed within the Teraco facility, Teraco Data Environments CEO Lex van Wyk has said.
Mohapi says its use of NAPAfrica for peering and online content distribution is an integral part of its approach to enabling universal access to multimedia content through open access platforms. "We have ambitious plans for the years ahead."
Internet exchange points enable networks to exchange traffic with each other. Multiple Internet service and content providers connect to a single exchange. Local and international content providers rely on the availability of high-speed, low-cost connections in order to guarantee the quality of service to the end-subscriber at a low-cost entry point.
Mohapi says Sentech still has to build a business case, but the aim is to offer the platform for anyone who wants to distribute audio visual content and it will be device-agnostic. He adds that Sentech will also install a disaster recovery centre.
Sceptical
However, World Wide Worx MD Arthur Goldstuck says Sentech should not assume it can provide content, just because it distributes signal. He says that is akin to a mobile operator becoming a broadcaster because it has a network.
Goldstuck says it sounds like Sentech's creative juices started flowing after a party, thanks to whatever they were ingesting. He points out that Sentech's previous foray into the consumer space was a public and dramatic failure.
In addition, while short bursts of online video - such as YouTube - have taken off locally, only the young and wealthy can currently justify the cost of broadband required to watch TV online, says Goldstuck. While this situation is changing, SA is a long way from the necessary affordable, high-speed, uncapped, quality Internet, he adds.
Goldstuck says the theory is good, but this is more a case of a solution looking for a problem. "It's wishful thinking that it's going to happen in the next year in a big way."
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